Trio of Mercedes-Benz trucks chosen by Chandlers 03 March 2011

Builders' merchant Chandlers has taken delivery of two 26-tonne trucks – one Actros and one Axor – as well as a 10-tonne Atego, all fitted with dropside bodies.

All the trucks also have rear-mounted Hiab cranes, with those on the two six-wheelers being remote radio-controlled.

The 26-tonne Axor, with rear-steer axle for extra manoeuvrability in yards and on sites, is an established favourite of Britain's builders' merchants. Chandlers' new Axor 2529 has a 290bhp engine and offers an impressive 14-tonne payload.

As with its new Actros, its six-metre body is the work of Colliers Truck Bodies, of Maldon, Essex, and all were supplied by Eastbourne dealer Rossetts Commercials.

The Actros and Axor are based at Chandlers' headquarters in Ringmer, East Sussex, which specialises in 'heavy side' materials for groundworks, roofing etc.

Meanwhile, the Atego is working out of the firm's depot in Lewes, from where it delivers general building and plumbing supplies.

"Our business is expanding and the requirement for inter-branch movements is increasing," says Mick Foster, transport manager at Chandlers. "As fuel prices continue to shoot up, we felt that a drawbar combination offered the most flexible and cost-effective solution to the problem of increasing volume capacity with a single vehicle.

"We can also deploy the Actros as a solo rigid,," continues Foster. "So we might, for example, drop the trailer at one of our yards and then, while it is being unloaded, use the truck to deliver to a customer location before returning later in the day to pick up the reloaded trailer. The result is time saved and increased efficiency for our business."